Conversion Of Araga Farm Settlement To Tourist Centre Will Boost Epe Economy – Eredo LCDA Chairman

By Babatunde Kaka

Hon. Adeniyi Saliu, the Eredo Local Council Development Area Chairman has called on the Ministry of Agriculture, Lagos State Government and other stakeholders in agriculture sector to consider conversion of the Araga Farm Settlement, Poka Epe, to an Agri-Tourism centre.

Hon. Adeniyi Saliu made the call while delivering a keynote address at an even tagged ” The Role of Youths in Nation Building”

Saliu said the call for the settlement transformation was borne out of the prevailing realities vis-à-vis the level of development that the milieu in which it’s located has undergone.

Taking into consideration the eco-tourism potential of the farm settlement, he urged the government to move the core and essential farming activities from Araga to the Igbooye farm settlement.

He also said his administration has done so much to assist farmers in the area, he cited an initiative in collaboration with Varden Farms tagged “Farmers Fest “.

He said the initiative affords the government the opportunity to harness the agricultural potential in the area, adding that the programme provides a platform that allows the farmers and other stakeholders in the sector to actualise their objectives and also create a conducive environment for them to thrive.

He averred that the purpose and objectives upon which Vardens farm is built should also shape the transformation of Araga Farm settlement.

“We have done so many things for farmers. In fact, there is a programme with Varden Farms tagged ” Farmers Fest ” every year and for the second year running, we trade, we do seminars, we link farmers up with financiers who would give them money to start their businesses. We invited so many people particularly students from Araga. We also collaborated with the LASU department of agriculture to train farmers. Today, we are that Local Government that has the most robust relationship with local farmers. We have an association in Eredo where we meet with them regularly. In fact, during endsars, we bought some of their farm produce so that it will not perish and distributed to people who needed food.

” Our most viable asset in Eredo is land, so the job that commonly applies to our people is farming which we have to take very seriously. And I have taken up the leadership in the Ministry of Agriculture a lot of time. I told them that Araga farm has overspent its purpose as a farm settlement. I said they should convert it to an Agri-Tourism centre because development has caught up with Araga Farm.

“There are two farm settlements in Eredo LCDA, one in Araga and the other one in Igbooye. I told them to shift the real core farming to Igbooye and make Araga an Agri-Tourism centre like the type we have in Varden Farms. It is more of a business farm, there is a resort in Varden farms, it is a farm, it is a tourist attraction. And I think that Araga has qualified for that kind of development. These are the things we have been doing with agriculture and leadership of the Ministry of Agric “, he said.

Ekohotblog reports that the LCDA is concerned about education and youth empowerment despite the little capacity.

The Chairman, however, noted that both concerns are top on the list of government in the 2021 budgetary provisions.

He also informed the gathering about efforts made on youth empowerment by his administration and hinted further that Equipment empowerment project for 25-30 youths will commence in December 23rd, 2020.

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” Education, youth empowerment takes the lead for 2021 budget. Eredo LCDA where I’m chairman is the only Local Government in Lagos State to train at least 21 youths in a Residential programme. We took these youths from Eredo to NYSC in Gbagada, they stayed there for 6 months. We fed them, paid for their accommodation and they learn from mechanical engineering to computer engineering, to fashion designing, hairdressing and so on for 6 months. They came back home, we bought equipment for them and gave them financial grants to take off.

” Yearly, we do what is called equipment empowerment. If you have learnt a trade, and your freedom has been set, and you don’t have money for equipment, let us know. By the grace of God, December 23rd, we are going to embark on equipment empowerment for at least 25-30 youths which is yearly “, he said.